Sydney and Melbourne to host Phil Penman street photography exhibition
British-born, New York-based photographer Phil Penman will present a selection of his New York street photography at Leica Gallery Sydney and Leica Gallery Melbourne this August, with the photographer attending opening events to discuss the stories behind his images.
The free public exhibition opens at Leica Store and Gallery Sydney on 7 August, followed by Leica Store and Gallery Melbourne from 15 August.
The exhibition follows a successful showing at Leica Gallery New York and coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations of Leica Galleries worldwide.
The collection features Penman’s black-and-white street photography, documenting everyday moments across New York City — from passing encounters and crowded streets to the quieter interactions that often go unnoticed.
He describes his work as exploring the relationship between light, timing and the unpredictable nature of urban life.
Known for his instinctive approach and ability to capture fleeting moments, Penman has spent decades photographing New York as a constantly changing environment. The exhibition continues his ongoing exploration of the city and its people through spontaneous visual narratives.
Penman’s photographs have been published internationally, including in The Guardian, National Geographic, Time Magazine and The New York Review of Books.
His images documenting the September 11 attacks are held in the archives of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, while his COVID-19-era photographs of New York have been acquired by the Library of Congress.
He has received numerous awards during his career and was included among the “52 Most Influential Street Photographers”, alongside photographers such as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Sebastião Salgado.
His debut book STREET reached number one in Amazon’s Street Photography category and has been featured at Museum of Modern Art.
As part of his Australian visit, Penman will also lead weekend workshops in Sydney and Melbourne, offering photographers the opportunity to learn about street photography, visual storytelling and his approach to working in the urban environment.
Workshop details are available through Leica Akademie Australia.
The exhibition will run at Leica Gallery Sydney and Leica Gallery Melbourne, with framed prints available for purchase.